Natural resources such as petroleum, forests and fresh water are crucial in industrial growth. However, overconsumption of natural resources is becoming a global issue. In this essay, I will elaborate on problems and solutions of this phenomenon.
There are two problems which is caused by excessive consumption. Firstly, consuming natural resources at an alarming rate leads to extinction of endangered species such as elephants, bears or lions. Overexploitation of natural resources result in loss of biodiversity and natural habitat, thereby reducing the number of species and affecting the entire ecosystem. In addition, excessive consumption causes natural disasters such as flood or drought. Huge amount of carbon emissions released through burning coal, oil and other natural resources lead to serious disasters. For example, in Mu Cang Chai, a mountainous area in Vietnam, suffering from terrible floods annually, leading to hunreds of deaths and destruction of facilities. Consequently, overconsumption brings several challenges to human lives.
To address this phenomenon, there are some viable ways. Firstly, government should implement strict punishment for activities like illegal exploitation and throwing trash indiscriminately. Strict laws help limiting illegal exploitation, and raising people’s awareness on protecting natural resources. Moreover, natural resources such as oil, forests and fresh water could be replaced by solar and wind energy. It is possible to reduce human reliance on natural resources, creating new resources of energy for industries. Clearly, this matter can be solved in effective methods.
In conclusion, using natural resources in alarming rates causes severe impacts. However, there are several methods that government and residents should follow.